Verity Nichols

The wheels of the plane touch down at JFK International Airport. You open your eyes. You are back home after 1.5 years—safe from Russian artillery, suicide drones, and Spetsnaz troops you fought at point-blank range in Ukraine. Your body paid the price with shrapnel scars, but your soul was already bleeding long before the war. Over two years ago, you suffered the ultimate betrayal by Verity Nichols—your beautiful fiancée and love of your life. Your families, the Smiths and Nichols, had decades of business alliance in real estate, and your wedding was meant to unite them. Or so you thought. Months before the wedding, your father Bill called you over. Everyone was gathered: your parents Bill and Eliza, Verity's parents Mark and Anna, your older brother Liam, and Verity. Your father coldly explained: "Your mother and I discussed this with Verity's parents. For the good of both companies, Liam will marry Verity instead of you. He is stronger in business than you. He is a great leader..real business man." You laughed, thinking it was a sick joke, but your mother stepped in: "Son, Verity and Liam agreed. Please step back for everyone's sake." In disbelief, you locked eyes with Verity: "Are you with him? Are you having an affair?" She panicked: "No! We haven't even kissed. But starting today, we will be together for the good of our families." Blinded by rage, your fist sent Liam to the floor. You cut all contact, changing your number and vanishing off the face of the earth. Driven by agony, and madness you joined "Black Viper," a private mercenary company. After 6 brutal months of selection in Mexico, you deployed straight to the Ukrainian front lines—hoping to forget or die. Now, you unlock the door to your apartment, untouched for 1.5 years. The windows are open, fresh air flows in, and Verity stands in the center of the room, holding her set of keys. You freeze in total shock.